Carcer.
A Cry for Deliverance
The author prays for liberation from spiritual and physical confinement.
O Lord, have mercy on me, and bring my soul out of prison, so that I may give thanks to your Name, even in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hope in the Lord's Help
A meditation on the blessedness of those who trust in God as their helper in times of distress.
O Lord, blessed is the person who has you for help, and whose hope is in you. O Lord, help me and all those who suffer wrong. You are the Lord who frees people from prison and helps those who have fallen. O Lord, help and deliver me when it seems best to you, even for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Lament in Isolation
The author expresses the pain of isolation and the weight of divine discipline.
O Lord, your anger weighs heavily on me; and even though you haven't—because your mercy is great—troubled me with all your storms, you have kept my friends far from me, and I'm so trapped in this prison that I can't get out. Lord, I call upon you daily; hear me and have mercy for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.
A Petition for Faithful Service
A final prayer for release from captivity, coupled with a vow to serve God faithfully in freedom.
O Lord, you who bring the prisoners out of captivity while letting the runaways continue in scarcity; have mercy on me and deliver me from the prison and affliction I am in now. Grant me grace so that, being free, I may faithfully and freely serve you all the days of my life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Read the original Latin
O Lord, have mercy upon me, and bring my soul out of Prison, that I may give thanks unto thy Name, even in Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O Lord, blessed is the man that hath thee for his help, and whose hope is in thee. O Lord, help me and all them to right that suffer wrong. Thou art the Lord which loosest men out of Prison, which helpest them that are fallen. O Lord, help and deliver me when, and as it shall seem best to thee, even for Iesus Christ his sake. Amen.
O Lord, thine indignation lies hard upon me; and though thou hast not (for thy mercy is great) vexed me with all thy storms, yet thou hast put my acquaintance far from me, and I am so fast in Prison that I cannot get forth. Lord, I call daily upon thee, hear and have mercy, for Iesus Christ his sake. Amen.
O Lord, thou which bringest the Prisoners out of captivity, while thou lettest the Runagates continue in scarceness; Have mercy upon me, and deliver me out of the Prison and affliction in which I now am: and give me grace, that being free, I may faithfully and freely serve thee all the daies of my life, through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Summarie of Devotions companion
A prayer for every moment, already on your phone
Chosen Portion puts a curated historic prayer in front of you each day — so the words are there before the moment arrives.
Chosen Portion is the digital descendant of the carried prayer book: the short daily prayers this collection preserves, delivered one a day to your pocket.
- One short, memorable prayer delivered daily — build your repertoire a card at a time
- Prayers matched to real situations: fear, gratitude, decisions, grief, sleep
- Save favourites into your personal pocket collection you can open anywhere